Slasher blade sharpening

Does anyone have an opinion on this?

I have always backed the tractor into the workshop, lifted up the slasher and put two big logs under the skids so I can get underneath them with a 125mm grinder to tip them up. Sometimes I use a 40grit flap disk and other times a grinding disk...both work just fine.

I cannot see an alternative to a tip up as to remove the blades for a proper sharpen, I still need to get under the slasher anyway and I'm their for much longer stripping half the cutting arm to pull the blades anyway.
I'm not too concerned about heating up the blades too much as they are damn big cutters and I just go easy on the tip when it's getting close to thin.

How else does everyone do it?

I have come up with many ideas on trying to flip the slasher or stand it up but it's a good 350kgs. I going to wait until I make a hoist somewhere to do that.

Just thought I would put it out there as maybe I'm missing something obvious!

Thanks everyone!
Ben

Not sure how you would take the blades off your machine,what does the manual say?
You run the risk of making the blades unbalanced by doing them the way you say,you can't see that equal amount are removed in each side,the speed that they run at would not need to much out of balance to set up vibration.
good luck.

The manual does not recommend anything other than keep it sharp.

I was just curious as to what everyone else does.

The cutter bar comes apart to drop the blades, that's not the issue, it just takes a lot to do it that way.
I'm guessing but the whole cutter bar assembly probably weighs about 40kg...big chubby bugger of a thing.
I just eye ball the amount taken off. If I was to balance the whole assembly, I would need to make something pretty substantial...
Balancing the blades is a question I asked a lot of locals years ago and the common theme with it was don't bother. I find it odd as I balance the blade assembly on my ride on every time I sharpen...but that's easy compared.

I was trying to relate if it was like doing a sharpen on my ride on but I guess your stuff is a lot bigger.
cheers

Nrb, it's pretty much is the same, just a much bigger version of a ride on that you drag behind..well at least I treat it the same!

It's not a big slasher by any measure. They definitely get much bigger. It has a 5 foot cutting deck.
It's just big for me at the moment because I do not have a place I can hoist it up on it's side.

Hi Ben

I do mine the same way as you do - probably not as often as I should as it is no fun.

I am using a tractor FEL and have been known to lift the whole thing up to vertical with some chain and the FEL when I need to do something more serious to the blades.

Regfards

Ian

I think I might revisit your method Ian.

I had a quick go at it and did not like the idea of working on the slasher while standing under the bucket! I might have a go pulling and lifting it back over with some chains.

I need to strip down the gearbox anyway and change the bottom seal plus I think I have a scorched bearing in their as well......100% my fault. Should have checked the oil in it sooner! :doh:

Damn they do run nicer with sharp blades and oil!

...it would have taken me a whole 5mins to check it and top it up! I'm lucky it's not a very expensive gearbox if it's fubared.

I am going to lift the slasher (5.5ft) up with chains off my FEL. My Mahindra 60hp tractor has steel safety 'brackets' that fit on the hydraulic rams and prevent the loader arms from descending when you're underneath them. I'm just not sure how sharp the blades are meant to be, although obviously not like a samurai sword.
Leigh, Bellingen

The mahindras are quite big (so is the FEL reach), could probably get away with just tipping the slasher it on it's side. Depends on if your're sold on being under the slasher but I reckon it would be easier and safer standing it on an edge and brace it back to something.
I just quickly tip my blades up with a flap disk on a grinder every time I check the clutch, basically every morning I use it. I'm with you on that one...no crazy sharp, just a good shape.